Bjp Stalls On Lakshmi Parvathi Alliance

The Telugu Desam Party (NTR), led by Lakshmi Parvathi, appears keen to forge an electoral alliance with the BJP for the next Lok Sabha elections. The BJP, however, seems to be in no hurry. It would much prefer her far stronger rival, Andhra Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

BJP leaders say theyll wait till the announcment of elections before they decide. If they do ally with NT Rama Raos widow, it will be as a last resort for BJP leaders say they have little faith in her political acumen. The initiative for an alliance this week came from Lakshmi Parvathi. She met BJP president LK Advani and Samata Party president George Fernandes yesterday. She planned a courtesy call on former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. She has been camping in Delhi for the last six days.

 

Advani told newsmen their discussion was on preparations for the Lok Sabha elections. However, he added, no decision was taken as the BJP was busy with its organisational elections. Whatever we have to do, we will do later, he said.

Parvathi claimed that Advani told her the next Lok Sabha is certain in about six months. She said the BJP, the Samata Party and the TDP-NTR were already in alliance in the state. The need was to enhance the alliance to the level of electoral understanding. The BJP state unit is reportedly trying to woo the states media baron Ramoji Rao, who is considered close to Naidu. Rao has told some BJP leaders he might consider supporting the BJP at the Centre if the United Front breaks, a BJP leader from Andhra Pradesh said. Naidu is in a bad shape and he might need support of the BJP to contain the people disenchantment from his rule, he held. Parvathis public overtures towards the BJP might finally propell Naidu to reach a truce or understanding with the BJP, he added.

Parvathi said she realised the BJP was marginal in Andhra, with just five per cent of the votes, mostly in urban areas, while my party has 13 per cent votes.

Chandrababu is corrupt

I am living in hell as, without NTR, my life is zero, Lakshmi Parvathi told Business Standard yesterday, turning suddenly sad and philosophical when asked about her personal life. I came into politics to fulfil my husbands last desire to work for the uplift of the poor people of Andhra Pradesh. If I get success, his soul will get satisfaction, said she.

She recalled that the same people who abused her after NTRs death used to worship me when he was alive. But, she said, the situation was changing fast and people were turning back to NTRs legacy.

Chandrababau Naidu was it frittering away, playing into the hands of power brokers, scrapping NTRs favourite shcemes such as Rs 2 per kg rice to the poor, Rs 50 per horse power electricity to farmers and prohibition.

Calling him the most corrupt chief minister in the country, she listed a string of allegations, adding that she planned a mass movement. Refusing to accept that people flocked to see her but refused to vote for her, she said people were innocent and voted for NTRs symbol, which Naidus TDP had.